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1 EI After NICU Discharge: “Where Should We Begin?" Tara DuPont, MD Assistant Professor of Pediatrics Gerri A.  Duran, MS, OT/L, FAOTA Monica Armas Aragon, LCSW, IMHE®III Developmental Care Program (DCCP) University of New Mexico Health Sciences Center Neonatology Objectives/Topics Prematurity Correcting for prematurity Nutritional needs Issues that we see most frequently in SBC Why we recommend following until they are 2 y/o (even when they are doing okay) Head Shape Parental stress & trauma HIE Cooling Who makes our focused vs. generalized NICU attention?

EI After NICU Discharge: “Where Should We Begin? · 2020. 12. 17. · –Congenital infections: CMV, Herpes, Rubella, Syphilis, toxoplasmosis 2007 Position Statement: Principles

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  • 1

    EI After NICU Discharge: “Where Should We Begin?"

    Tara DuPont, MDAssistant Professor of PediatricsGerri A.  Duran, MS, OT/L, FAOTA

    Monica Armas Aragon, LCSW, IMH‐E®IIIDevelopmental Care Program (DCCP)

    University of New Mexico Health Sciences Center

    Neonatology

    Objectives/Topics

    • Prematurity• Correcting for prematurity• Nutritional needs• Issues that we see most frequently in SBC • Why we recommend following until they are 2 y/o (even 

    when they are doing okay) • Head Shape• Parental stress & trauma• HIE

    – Cooling • Who makes our focused vs. generalized NICU attention?

  • 2

    Disclosure

    • We have no relevant financial relationships with the manufacturer of any commercial products and/or providers of commercial services discussed in this CME activity.

    • We do not intend to discuss any unapproved or investigative use of a commercial product or devise in this presentation.

    Maternal History:-Chronic disease-Diabetes-Cardio. disease-Underweight (preconception)-Smoking-Previous preterm labor-African American Race-Low socioeconomic status-Reproductive tract anomalies-Age extremes

    Current Pregnancy:-Inadequate weight gain-Acute Maternal Illness

    -PIH-UTI-Infection

    -PROM-Multiple gestation

    Fetal Factors:-Fetal anomalies-Fetal demise-Infection

    Factors Associated with Preterm Labor and Delivery

  • 3

    United States Stats as of 2015• ~ 4 million births per year

    – Gestational age• 9.6% are preterm (

  • 4

    30 week AGA Female 

    Discharge Criteria

    • Infant Readiness

    • Family and Home Environmental Readiness

    • Community and Health Care System Readiness

    AAP, Committee on Fetus and Newborn. Pediatrics. 2008

    Our goal is to discharge a stable baby, NOT a term healthy newborn

  • 5

    77 days later……Now what?

    Medical Home

    • The primary care provider who provides the family of a premature infant with – Routine healthcare maintenance– Anticipatory guidance– Coordination of multiple specialty evaluations,– Family advocacy and support – Assessment of neurodevelopment or behavioral issues

  • 6

    Outpatient Management

    • Evaluation of Growth and Nutrition• Vision and Hearing Screening• Ongoing Preventative Care• Developmental Progress• Close monitoring of common medical problems of the preterm infant

    Evaluation of Growth and Nutrition

  • 7

    Goal of Growth and Nutrition

    • To approximate the rate of growth and body composition of a healthy fetus of the same gestational age while avoiding nutritional excesses or deficiencies

    Growth

    Lemons et al. Pediatrics. 2001; Embleton et al. Pediatrics 2001Carlson SE: Nutrition of the preterm infant: scientific basis and practical guidelines, ed 3. 2005

    • Poor postnatal growth is a major cause of morbidity in the preterm population – Most develop a significant nutrient deficit in the first weeks of life that is not replaced before hospital discharge (even when recommended dietary intakes are met)

    – Not much is known about the nutritional status of these infants post‐discharge and best practice is still largely unknown

  • 8

    Growth Patterns

    • Head growth frequently exceeds weight gain and linear growth 

    • Many have a disproportionate increase in weight for length in the early months after discharge, especially VLBW– This should not be used as evidence for restriction of intake

    • Accelerated growth patterns usually normalize between 1 & 2 years of age

    Human Milk

    • The optimal choice, but….– Deficient in calcium, phosphorous, and vitamin D for bone mineralization and protein for adequate growth

    – Human milk fortifiers add these factors• At higher volumes it requires close monitoring as potential for inappropriate vitamin intake

    • Transitioning from fortified human milk to exclusive human milk and/or something in between– No best practice available– No good studies available– Needs to be individualized with close follow‐up

  • 9

    Fortification?

    • Only 2 studies• Fortification did NOT effect duration of BF• No difference in Bayley II scores

    O’Connor et al. Pediatrics 2008O’Connor et al. JPEN 2012

    Post‐Discharge Recommendations

    • Needs may be met by human milk, human milk supplemented with post-discharge or term formula, or exclusively post-discharge or term formula

    • An individualized approach is essential• Human milk is preferred for preterm

    infants; breast-feeding should be advocated by pediatricians and lactation resources should be made available

    Nzegwwu &Ehrenkranz, Clinics of Perinatology 2014

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    Post‐Discharge Recommendations

    • A discharge nutritional plan should be discussed among the health care team, parents, and if possible the outpatient care provider.

    • Close monitoring of growth parameters using validated growth curves and nutritional intake should be assessed at discharge and every 2-4 weeks thereafter, until stable weight gain is established.

    Nzegwwu &Ehrenkranz, Clinics of Perinatology 2014

    Human Milk• Two potential strategies:

    – Feed pumped breast milk at the energy density at discharge; gradually increase exclusive nursing sessions by eliminating one bottle feeding at a time• Caloric supplementation can be done using powered formula

    – Nurse on demand but have a specific required daily intake of nutrient enriched post‐discharge formula

    Lee. Primary Care of the Premature Infant. Ed. 1 2008

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    Nutrition

    • By the time of discharge, prematurely born infants generally are feeding ad lib with good total volume intake. 

    Cohen and McCallie. Journal of Parenteral and Enteral Nutrition. 2012

    Fortification

    • 24‐32 weeks gestation infants randomized to either exclusive breastfeeding or breastfeeding with fortification– Fortification of breastmilk had no significant effect on duration of breastfeeding. 

    – Growth was also not significantly different between the two groups (secondary outcome). 

    Zachariassen et al. Pediatrics. 2011

  • 12

    Fortification

    • Fortifying human milk while in the NICU is important

    • For the majority of NICU graduates there must be a clear and strong indication before changing a breastfed infant’s diet to any alternative

    • With either strategy, close follow‐up should be done to ensure adequate growth and bone mineralization

    Cohen and McCallie. Journal of Parenteral and Enteral Nutrition. 2012

    Formulas• VLBW infants should remain on nutrient enriched post‐discharge formulas (transitional) until at least 9 months CGA – Standard caloric content:  22kcal/oz– Preterm infants need to consume at least as much formula per day as their term‐born peers. 

    – If growth exceeds 2 birth percentile lines or if weight/length exceeds 90%, 20cal/oz term infant formula may be considered earlier

    • Kleinman RE. American Academy of Pediatrics Committee on Nutrition; 2004.• Lewis:https://www.preemietoolkit.com/pdfs/E_PhysicalExaminationAssessment/Recommendations-for-

    Postdischarge.pdf

  • 13

    Other Formulas

    • No role for the use of low‐iron formulas• Soy protein‐based formula not recommended for preterm infants weighing 

  • 14

    Risk Factors for Bone Disease• Population at highest risk for bone disease

    –  1000 IU/L, consider supplementation

    – Alternative: consider changing to some feeds with transitional formula

    – Maintain normal Ca and Phos• Supplementation with 2‐3 feeds of a transitional formula will enhance mineral intake

    – Recommend following until at least 6 months CGA if normalAbrams and the Committee on Nutrition. Pediatrics. 2013Brodsky & Ouellette. Primary Care of the Premature Infant. 2008

  • 15

    Iron Supplementation• Breast Fed

    – 2 mg/kg/day from 1 month through 12 months‐‐current AAP recommendations

    • Tsang et al. continue to recommend 2‐4 mg/k/day for ELBW and VLBW

    • Formula Fed– Only iron fortified formulas are recommended– Transitional formulas provide ~ 1.8 mg/kg/d at 150ml/kg/day—additional supplementation is indicated to meet the recommended 2‐4 mg/kg/d

    • Screening hematocrit at 2‐4 weeks post‐discharge is recommended with ongoing close monitoring

    Close Follow‐Up

    • At discharge the preterm infant is usually just meeting a set growth guideline – Typically 3‐5 days of good weight gain while on ad lib feeds.  

    • First follow‐up appointment is usually arranged for 48‐72 hours after discharge.  

    Our goal is to discharge a stable baby, NOT a term healthy newborn

  • 16

    Food Introduction• Introduction of foods should occur at a schedule consistent with a term baby, using the infant’s CGA– VLBW infant’s should wait until 6 months CGA

    Vision and Hearing

  • 17

    Retinopathy of Prematurity

    • 2nd most common cause of childhood blindness• Affects up to 80% of VLBW, ELBW and sick premature infants

    • Presents at 32 weeks CGA, peaks at 38‐40 weeks CGA, and begins to regress by 46 weeks CGA

    • Infants with immature retinas at discharge must be followed by ophthalmology until the retina is fully vascularized:  50 weeks CGA

    • If untreated, can lead to retinal detachment and blindnessGood et al. Pediatrics 2005; American Academy of Pediatrics. Policy Statement: Screening Examination of Premature Infants for Retinopathy of Prematurity. Pediatrics 2013

    Vision

    • Increased risk for:– Myopia (16%)– Strabismus (13‐25%)– Amblyopia

    • Recommended that all premature infants be evaluated by an ophthalmologist at 6‐12 months CGA and then yearly

    Quinn et al. Ophthalmology 1998; AAP. Eye examinations in infants, children, and young adults by pediatricians. Pediatrics. 2003

  • 18

    NMSBVI

    • Should be consulted as a part of a child’s IFSP team if any concerns arise OR if there has been a history of any of the risk factors noted on their Screening Tool.

    Hearing

    • 2‐4 per 100 infants 

  • 19

    When to do Hearing Evaluations Beyond Discharge

    • Risk factors associated with permanent congenital, delayed onset, or progressive hearing loss– Caregiver concern for hearing, speech, language or developmental delay

    – Family history of permanent childhood hearing loss– NICU stay > 5 days– History of ECMO, assisted ventilation, exposure to ototoxic medications or loop diuretics, and hyperbilirubinemia requiring exchange transfusion

    – Postnatal infections associated with hearing loss– Congenital infections:  CMV, Herpes, Rubella, Syphilis, toxoplasmosis

    2007 Position Statement: Principles and Guidelines for Early Hearing Detection and Intervention Programs

    Ongoing Preventative Care

  • 20

    Standard Immunizations

    • Preterm infants should receive full immunizations based upon their chronological age consistent with the schedule and dose recommended for normal full‐term infants

    AAP Committee on Infectious Diseases: Red Book 2012

    Rotavirus• AAP recommends initial vaccination at or following discharge if clinically stable and between 6 and 15 weeks of (chronological)age

    • Live vaccine– Need to know your NICU’s policy

    • More than half of ELBW infants are ineligible due to age at discharge from the NICU.

    • Recent study suggests it may be safe to give in the NICU

    AAP Committee on Infectious Diseases: Immunization in special circumstances. Red Book 2012Monk et al. Pediatrics 2014; Stumpf et al. Pediatrics 2013

  • 21

    Synagis (Palivizumab)

    • New guidelines as of July 2014• Who gets it this season?

    – All infants born at 29 0/7 weeks or less who are younger than 12 months at start of season

    – Any preterm infant less than 32 0/7 weeks with CLD, defined as:• Requirement of >21% oxygen for at least the first 28 days after birth

    Committee on Infectious Diseases and Bronchiolitis Guidelines Committee. Pediatrics 2014

    Synagis (Palivizumab)– In the 2nd year of life with ongoing CLD  of prematurity 40%

    – Cardiac transplant 

  • 22

    Developmental Progress

    Corrected Gestational Age (CGA)

    • Use until the infant reaches 24‐36 months

    • Use for all developmental milestones, including introduction of foods

    • The only schedule that should follow the preterm infant’s chronological age is their immunization schedule

  • 23

    Correction for Gestational Age

    • AAP recommends correction until at least age 2 and most until age 3– Consider the percentage of prematurity

    • Baby born at 28 weeks at age 2 years is 12%• Baby born at 24 weeker at age 3 years is 10%

    Neurological Differences

    • When corrected to term the extremely preterm infant’s brain– Reduced gray matter volume– Increased cerebrospinal fluid– Males have significantly lower white matter volumes in specific areas

    • These findings persist to school age and are associated with learning challenges

    Kesler SR et al. J Peds 2008

  • 24

    Perinatal/Neonatal Risk Factors

    • Prenatal• Prematurity• Intrauterine growth• Condition at birth• Neonatal complications• Neurological structure• Socioeconomic status

    Perinatal/Neonatal Risk Factors

    • Risk: Increased likelihood of disability• Risk ≠ disability• Many who have disability do not have risk• Some risk factors carry a higher risk of disability than others. 

    • More risk factors will lead to an additive effect

  • 25

    Surveillance, Screening, & Evaluation

    • Surveillance: the process of recognizing children who may be at risk of developmental delays.

    • Screening: the use of standardized tools to identify and refine recognized risk

    • Evaluation: a complex process aimed at identifying specific developmental disorders that are affecting a child.  

    Developmental Surveillance

    • Why– Large numbers of children with disabilities are not identified until school age. 

    – Can be highly sensitive and detect even a subtle delay in developmental domain. 

  • 26

    Surveillance

    • 5 areas– Eliciting and attending to the parents’ concerns– Documenting and maintaining a developmental history

    – Making accurate observations – Identifying risk and protective factors– Maintaining an accurate record of documenting the process and findings

    AAP Recommendation Screening

    • In the absence of risk or concerns– 9, 18, and 30 months

    • If surveillance identifies risk then additional screening is needed

    • Surveillance should be continued even if screening does not indicate a risk of delay. 

  • 27

    Long‐term Outcome?

    • Complex interplay– Biologic: serves as the strongest predictor of long‐term function and development as the child recovers from perinatal and prenatal insults.

    – Genetic and Environmental: accounts for more of the variations seen in cognitive developmental. 

    • In most preterm children a positive environment can ameliorate many biologic risk factors. 

    Perinatal Mood and Anxiety Disorders(PMAD) 

  • 28

    2013: Exposed in pain: Danielle Haines of Phoenix, Arizona, shared this image of herself three days postpartum with her son Ocean, describing in detail how she experienced anxiety and depression after birth

    http://www.dailymail.co.uk/femail/article-3237618/I-raw-Mother-posts-devastating-image-sobbing-cradling-newborn-baby-shed-light-realities-postpartum-depression.html#ixzz4Oxt5tZdB

    Factors That May Impact Risk• Changes in Hormonal levels• High Risk Pregnancies• Complications/Difficult birth• History of Depression• PMAD with a previous pregnancy (risk: 30‐50%)

    • Feelings of Isolation• Lack of Sleep• Social/environmental stressors

  • 29

    Statistics

    • Up to 80% of women will experience “Baby Blues”(NIMH)

    • Prevalence: 10‐20% of women will experience a PMAD, half will begin experiencing symptoms during pregnancy

    • Suicide is one of the most common causes of maternal death in the first year post deliver in the developed world (WHO, 2016)

    • About 18% of women will experience a traumatic birth(i.e. birth complications, hemorrhaging, hx of sexual abuse)…5‐9% will develop PTSD

    Impact of PPMD• Mother• Baby

    – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Btg9PiT0sZg– https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6czxW4R9w2g– Overall Development

    • Cognitive• Social Emotional• Long Term outcomes (All development unfolds from the primary relationships)

    • Family

  • 30

    Depression and Anxiety Symptoms

    • Feeling “down”

    • Feelings of guilt

    • Low self‐esteem/sense of worthlessness

    • Low energy

    • Changes in appetite

    • Scary Thoughts

    • Sleep disruptions

    • Excessive worry

    • Hypervigilence

    • Agitation

    • GI disturbances

    • “Can’t shut mind down”

    • Sleep disturbances

    What are the Perinatal Mood Disorders

    • Depression• Anxiety• Bipolar Disorder• Obsessive Compulsive Disorder• Post Traumatic Stress Disorder• Psychosis

  • 31

    How do you ask about this?

    Think about how the mom and dad are already feelingNot accusatoryAffirmingLetting them know what is availableLetting them know that you are NOT saying that they are “depressed and anxious”

    Early Intervention

    • New Mexico’s EI eligibility criteria is based on:1. Established conditions2. Identified developmental delay, OR3. Risk

    • Biomedical Risk            • Environmental Risk       

    NM FIT 2014

  • 32

    Close monitoring of common medical problems of the preterm infant

    Dental Care

    • ~ 2/3 of VLBW infants have dental enamel defects

    • May have delay in tooth eruption– Full complement should be present by 2 years

    • Decreased tooth crown size• If history of prolonged intubation:

    – V‐shaped palates, palatal groove, posterior cross bites, deformed incisal edges, and missing teeth

    • Initial evaluation based on risk:– As early as 6 months of age, 6 month after the first tooth erupts, and no later than 12 months of age

    Eastman et al. Newborn Infant Nursing review. 2003

  • 33

    2 Year Re‐hospitalization/Operations≤27 weeks

    • 50% re‐hospitalization rate– Mean is 1.9 times, Median 1

    • 1/3 received an operation– 30% Hernia repair– 25% Tubes– 15% G‐tube– 15% Bronch– 3% Eye Surgery

    Neonatal Research Network Data 2011

    2 Year Re‐hospitalization/Operations≤27 weeks

    • Oxygen–7% with oxygen requirement at age 2–2% on Vent or CPAP

    Neonatal Research Network Data 2011

  • 34

    2 Year Re‐hospitalization/Operations≤27 weeks

    • 12% Cerebral Palsy –6% mild–6% moderate/severe

    • 11% require special equipment–86% braces/orthotics–19% walker

    Neonatal Research Network Data 2011

    Follow‐Up Care Delivery

  • 35

    AAP Recommendations on Follow‐Up Care of the High‐Risk Infant

    • There are currently no standardized guidelines for provision of follow‐up services for high‐risk infants in tertiary care centers.

    • Experience in follow‐up care is required for all neonatal‐perinatal medicine fellows…..

    Workshop: Follow-up Care of the High-Risk Infant. Pediatrics. 2004

    Follow‐Up Care

    • Neonatal follow‐up programs (such as Special Baby Clinic) have been developed to survey the outcome of high‐risk infants.– Does not address the specialized health needs related to the preterm infants pulmonary, gastrointestinal, nutritional, and neurologic problems.

    – Does not address acute illnesses or complications that may quickly become life threatening.  

  • 36

    New Mexico Follow‐Up Care• Currently we don’t have comprehensive care for high‐risk neonates

    • UNMH’s NICU represents all regions of the State– 80% Medicaid– 2% No insurance– 50‐60% from outside of Bernalillo County

    • More than 1/3 of births are to residents in rural and semi‐rural areas

    • Preterm birth is more common in rural areas.• 10.4% of children with special health care needs are without a usual source of care

    Useful Resources

    • www.preemietoolkit.com• Primary Care of the Premature Infant, D Brodsky and MA Ouellette

    • Nutritional Care of Preterm Infants• AAP

  • 37

    Whole Body Cooling for Infants with Hypoxic‐Ischemic EncephalopathyRafat Mosalli J Clin Neonatol. 2012 Apr‐Jun; 1(2): 101–106. 

    • Hypoxic‐ischemic injury: important cause of perinatally acquired brain injury in full‐term infants. 

    • The best predictor of mortality and long‐term outcome following perinatal injury is presence of neonatal encephalopathy. 

    • Moderate encephalopathy: risk of death 

  • 38

    Intraventricular hemorrhage (IVH)

    • IVH is a significant risk factor for Cerebral Palsy. • It is most common in premature babies

    – especially those who have experienced respiratory distress syndrome,

    – collapsed lung, – or high blood pressure.

    • IVH occurs most frequently in the first 48 hours after birth and decreases in likelihood as baby ages.

    www.cerebralpalsy.org

    IVH

    • Changes in blood pressure can also cause delicate infant blood vessels to rupture.

    • Ventilatory support– although great care taken to prevent rupture,

    it is possible baby can breathe out of sync with the ventilator causing increased pressure in the lungs and brain.

    www.cerebralpalsy.org

  • 39

    Grades of IVH

    • Intraventricular hemorrhage is categorized into four grades (Grades I through IV) of increasing severity.

    • Grades I and II usually involve a small amount of bleeding contained in the ventricles and do not normally cause long-term problems.

    IVH

    • Grades III and IV– More substantial bleeding which leading to

    swelling or obstruction in the brain.– The swelling and obstruction, in turn, can lead

    to a hydrocephalus, which causes dangerous pressure and may require surgical procedures to relieve.

    www.cerebralpalsy.org

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    What are the risk factors for intraventricular hemorrhage?

    •Placental blood clots•Malformed or weak blood vessels in the brain•Blood-clotting abnormalities•Maternal high blood pressure (hypertension)•Maternal infection•Pelvic inflammatory disease•Shaken baby syndrome•Head injury

    www.cerebralpalsy.org

    We are growing brains in the NICU

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    Synactive Theory

    Infant’s communication is via his/her behaviorBehavior represents the hierarchical integration of his subsystemsFocuses on the unique way that each baby processes the environment at any given timeSubsystems are  interdependent  hierarchical  mature sequentially           (Peters, 2001)

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    Systems and the NICUEssential ‘properties’ of the child can be considered when looking at “the interactions and relationships among the parts.” Muscle stiffness; cognition; medical condition; personality

    But, when we look at the child merely as a ‘24‐weeker’ we lose sight of the fact that “these parts are not isolated and the nature of the whole is always different from the mere sum of its parts”This is someone’s baby

    Nippling

    • Misconception of nippling and breastfeeding• Flow of milk/formula• Cue‐based and Infant‐driven

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    Plagiocephaly/Torticollis

    • NICU positioning– Gravity– Preference– Medical needs

    • Back‐to‐sleep• Huge problems in f/u

    Plagiocephaly/Torticollis

    • AAP http://www.aappublications.org/news/2016/10/27/Plagiocephaly102016

    • Common condition– ¼ of U.S. infants w/ some degree of positional plagiocephaly. 

    – The incidence has increased since AAP Back to Sleep campaign in 1994 (to prevent SIDS)

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    • What happens when head shape changes?– Blood and CSF flow changes– Muscles shorten– Vision perspective changes– Attention to right/left sides changes

    What to do about it?

    • Ask your motor therapist• Ask your pediatrician• Do not wait to address it• Positioning• Best approach? 

    – PREVENTION

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    What to do about it?

    • Helmet – Still need attention to the shortened muscles

    • Think about the words that you use– Lengthening vs. shortening– Active vs. passive responses of muscles

    Recommendations (Congress of Neurological Surgeons, 2016)

    1.[Physical] therapy recommended over repositioning education alone for reducing prevalence of infantile positional plagiocephaly in infants 7 weeks of age. (Strength of recommendation: Level I [high clinical certainty].

    2. [Physical] therapy is as effective for the treatment of positional plagiocephaly and recommended over the use of a positioning pillow in order to ensure a safe sleeping environment and comply with AAP recommendations. (Strength of recommendation: Level I)

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    Recommendations (Congress of Neurological Surgeons, 2016)

    [Physical] therapy is an additional intervention often utilized with more significant deformity and/or torticollis to speed the rate of correction.

    Torticollis commonly associated w/ more severe cases of plagiocephaly, due to even longer periods of time spent laying in the same position w/ pressure on the flattened skull surface.

    [Physical] therapy serves to treat both the torticollis and the resultant positional plagiocephaly.

    Recommendations‐ Helmet Therapy (Congress of Neurological Surgeons, 2016)

    1.Helmet therapy recommended for infants with persistent moderate to severe plagiocephaly after a course of conservative treatment (repositioning and/or physical therapy). (Strength of Recommendation: Level II – uncertain clinical certainty)

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    Recommendations Helmet Therapy (Congress of Neurological Surgeons, 2016)

    2.Helmet therapy recommended for infants with moderate to severe plagiocephalypresenting at an advanced age. (Strength of Recommendation: Level II – uncertain clinical certainty)

    Recommendations‐ Helmet Therapy (Congress of Neurological Surgeons, 2016)

    3. For infant either at advanced age (usually > 8 months) w/ significant deformity or who presents at younger age, (~6 months of age) who failed to respond to repositioning/therapy, a cranial orthosis (molding helmet) is more effective, compared to conservative therapy, especially if asymmetry is severe, and provided that helmet therapy is applied during the appropriate period of infancy.

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    Recommendations (Congress of Neurological Surgeons, 2016)

    3. (cont). In general, infants with a more severe presenting deformity, & infants helmeted early in infancy, tend to yield better outcomes (such as correction and even normalization) of head shape

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    Special Baby Clinic

    • Appointments made pre‐d/c Women’s & Pres (the latter for some insurances)

    • UNMH made at d/c• Staffed by

    – Neonatologist– Therapist– SW/Family therapist

    • Younger than 1 year

    Misc.

    • Invitation to SBC• Invitation to place us on your IFSPs if you think that a consult/E & A would be helpful